Acts 17:26-27
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us…
This week, we embark on a most needed discussion regarding blessings and curses. Whereas we will cover extensively throughout the week what the Bible says about the matter, today we will set the pace by examining, albeit briefly, what our current reality looks like. This is because we tend to understand and interact with certain issues based on the cultural set-up that we are in. On the question of blessings and curses, our specific cultures greatly influence that. That is why, for example, we conduct funerals in a particular way. In most instances, we are trying to appease the dead lest a curse falls on us. Another example would be the now popular visits to parents to seek their blessing. One gathers a group of friends to accompany them to visit their parents in order to be blessed by them. This is not necessarily a global phenomenon and is, in fact, a recent fad specific to our cultural setting. Of course, there are many more other examples.
Our passage today reminds us that it is God who beforehand decided both where and when we will live – the place and the period of time. Therefore, to be found in Kenya or any other country that you might be right now is no coincidence but God’s very design. This, therefore, means that God determined for us to be within the specific cultural context that we find ourselves in. This means that the very context will shape our view of what and how blessings and curses look like. However, and most importantly, God placed us within our specific cultural environments in order that we may seek Him. In other words, we are meant to be pointed to God by our cultural expressions. Even when it comes to the question of blessings and curses, ultimately, we are supposed to seek God, who is always near us.
Our concept of blessings and curses should eventually lead us to appreciate the divine blessing and curse. We should then seek to evade this divine curse and receive the blessing. This pursuit would lead us to Christ who became a curse for us by hanging on a tree (Galatians 3:13) and cause us to experience all of the spiritual blessings that He obtained for us (Ephesians 1:3). Our cultures are a good starting point but not the end. Unfortunately, there are beliefs and practices within our cultures that are contrary to the Scriptures, including some understanding of blessings and curses. That is why we also need to be redeemed from some of these ways, as Peter writes:
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:17-19)
Reflections
1. What are some of the beliefs and practices surrounding the whole idea of blessings and curses in your specific culture?
2. In what ways do these point you to God?
